Principal, Online Safety Intelligence

Please note this role will close at 00.01 on the 8th June so we advise making your application by midnight on the 7th June.

Team Overview

Ofcom’s mission is to make communications work for everyone. We regulate broadband, mobile services, postal services, TV and radio, and the airwaves used by wireless devices. Under the 2023 Online Safety Act (OSA), we became the UK’s online safety regulator. The Research and Intelligence (R&I) team delivers insight across the markets Ofcom regulates. We provide the robust evidence base that underpins our decisions, drawing on a diverse mix of expertise from industry analysts, market researchers, and data specialists. As we build the online safety regime, the team continues to grow, developing innovative approaches to track and understand online harms. Our culture reflects Ofcom’s values: Empowerment, Excellence, Collaboration, Agility and Respect.

Purpose of the Role

This is a leadership role in the Online Hub within Ofcom’s R&I team. The postholder will be instrumental in delivering high-impact work on online safety, leading a team of analysts and researchers and overseeing complex cross-cutting programmes. You will design and manage projects that collect and analyse data from and about regulated online services in support of Ofcom’s evidence-based regulatory approach. You will play a visible external role, representing Ofcom in the online safety research community and building relationships with regulated services and third-party researchers. Internally, you’ll collaborate with senior colleagues from policy, legal, economics, supervision and enforcement teams to drive shared outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead major programmes of work in the Online Hub, including third-party data analysis, online safety triage, and formal information-gathering and analysis.
• Collaborate with peers to set direction for new research projects and lead them through governance, resourcing, and publication.
• Co-lead the development of new approaches for monitoring and evaluating large and high-risk platforms in support of Ofcom’s online safety supervision function.
• Drive strategy development and prioritisation across cross-functional teams and with the wider Online Safety Programme.
• Providing subject matter expertise on online platforms, online harms, research methodologies, and regulatory requirements.
• Leading cross-cutting workstreams and aligning projects with Ofcom’s strategic goals.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with the online safety research community to ensure our work reflects external developments and best practices.
• Scaling and adapting programmes of work as the regulatory environment evolves, ensuring resources and capabilities match Ofcom’s ambitions.
• Supporting strategy and planning across the wider online safety programme.
• Co-leading the Online Hub (~60 people), including setting team strategy and resource management.
• Line management of Senior Associates and Associates, focusing on coaching, performance, and professional development.
• Contributing to the broader Research & Intelligence management team to improve operations, team culture, and delivery processes.

Note: While this role does not routinely involve exposure to harmful content, some exposure may occur due to the nature of the work. Ofcom provides support to manage this where needed.

Skills, Knowledge, and Experience

Essential:

• Deep understanding of the online ecosystem, including platforms’ business models, emerging technology, and prevalent illegal harms.
• Solid understanding of research methods and how to apply them to online safety.
• Good grasp of UK online safety regulation and its implications for platforms.
• Experience of working in ambiguity, setting strategy and delivering results through cross-functional teams and multi-disciplinary workstreams.
• Experience representing a public body or organisation externally, particularly within the research or online safety communities.

Empowering Development:

• Strong leadership and people management capabilities with a track record of coaching and developing teams.

Executing Plans:

• Excellent programme management skills: managing timelines, budgets, risks, and multiple project objectives simultaneously.

Harmonising Work:

• Strong stakeholder engagement, including influencing senior internal and external stakeholders.

Articulating Ideas:

• Clear, impactful written and oral communication skills.

Building Solutions:

• Strategic analytical skills, including the ability to use qualitative and quantitative data to inform decision-making and drive strategy.

Desirable:

• Direct experience in the online safety field or in market intelligence for regulated industries.
• Experience assessing governance, compliance and internal systems in regulated companies.
• Strong record of running quantitative analyses, particularly as applied to online harms or safety.

Qualifications

A degree or equivalent higher qualification, or equivalent professional experience.

Ofcom has a clear mission: to make communications work for everyone. To be able to deliver on this, we want our organisation to reflect the diversity of background, experience, upbringing and thought that exists across the UK. We aim to recruit from the widest pool of candidates possible – no matter your social background, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender or disability. Where positions are listed as full-time, we remain open to reduced hours, part-time arrangements, job shares, and other flexible working options. From day one, we champion flexible work arrangements to accommodate individual needs. We also warmly welcome applicants who are returning to the workforce after a break – for whatever reason. If you have taken time away and are ready to rejoin, we look forward to reviewing your application. Our recruitment processes prioritise accessibility and inclusivity. If you need information in an alternative format or have specific preferences, please contact our recruitment team at resourcing@ofcom.org.uk or call 0330 912 1378. As a Disability Confident employer, we offer interviews to disabled applicants who meet essential criteria for advertised roles.